The Courettes, vocalist/guitarist Flavia Couri (from Brazil) and drummer/backing vocalist Martin Couri (from Denmark) return with a new album ‘The Soul Of The Fabulous Courettes’, their fourth which draws inspiration from many of the duo’s numerous idols that have only previously been hinted at. “We wanted to show our love of the Spector Wall Of Sound and Motown,” reveals Flavia. Multi-instrumentalist Søren Christensen also contributed Mellotron, organ, piano and backing vocals on this latest release.
The album opens with `You Woo Me` with organ keys and husky whispered vocals that ensure the number has an enticing edginess about it. There`s a Summery, all`s good with life feel to `California` which includes guest vocals from La La Brooks, legendary vocalist from New York girl group The Crystals (the voice of ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’).
`Keep Dancing` is about the death of Flavia`s father who died of COVID but had abandoned her and her sister, an introspective sixties-tinged number with a real defiance about it. We enjoy a brief psychedelic foot tapper with the captivating `Here I Come` which has a delightful fuzzy guitar solo.
`Don’t Want You Back` is another track that reflects on Flavia`s father`s passing, a kind of ballad with a big sound including castanets, drums, bells, and horns. There`s a sort of Ronettes feel to `Wall of Pain` which opens with a mellotron and has some tambourine and drum percussion on route with a spoken word segment thrown in for good measure.
`SHAKE!` has organ and fuzzy guitar along with pounding drums that gives this number a rebellious dance like texture. I was reminded of The Shangri-Las `Leader Of The Pack` with the dreamy `Boom Boom Boom`.
`Better Without You` has a quite dynamic soul feel while the meditative `Run Run Runaway` had La La Brooks once again guesting on vocals.
`Lies` had a sixties West Coast vibe not quite Strawberry Alarm Clock and `Incense & Peppermints` but a throwback to those heady days. I thought `Stop! Doing That` was quite contemplative with some interesting clicking castanets spliced throughout.
The album closes out with `For Your Love` which is fairly stripped back and pensive initially before a male vocal joins and the sound fills out and becomes more ruminative with both male and female vocals really complementing each other.
‘The Soul Of The Fabulous Courettes’ is a really interesting concept and although steeped in a kind of sixties nostalgia, it is a delightfully compelling and captivating listen.
Rating 8.5/10
